Business cards are one of the most important things you can own. They’ll show people that you’re a serious and active member of a particular group, or they’ll let people know who you are.
The right business card can do wonders for your reputation, and it won’t cost you a penny. The problem is that not many people know how to make great business cards.
Instead of making an excuse about it, admit it you’re a slacker. Business cards are one of the most difficult things to make, so give it your best shot. Here are a few tips to help you make the most out of those scraps of cardboard.
Decide What You Want To Say On Your Business Cards
If you’re going with a basic business card design, you’re probably aiming for a clean, uncluttered look. Unfortunately, a cluttered card leaves less space for your message, making it less likely for people to read your card quickly.
For a card to be effective, it needs to be as focused as possible. To keep the focus of your card, eliminate any distractions like images and phrases that may affect the way the card is read.
In other words, don’t add images that may distract the reader, or phrases that may raise questions in the mind of the reader. Keep your design as focused as you can.
Be Unique
Some people find it more effective to write on paper than to use a computer. If you prefer to jot down thoughts on paper, there are a few things you can do to make your card stand out.
First, make sure that your paper is high-quality writing material. If your card gets a lot of use, you don’t want it to be 1995. Second, write on the backside of your card. This will ensure that your card remains easy to read and doesn’t become dull over time.
Third, avoid using stock images on your card. Many people prefer to look at a real card, instead of an online representation. Stock images may look better on websites, but they lack the authenticity of a real card.
Make Your Card Irresistible
Business cards are meant to be seen, not read. That said, everyone has a different taste when it comes to how they like to receive information. Some people like to look at a card first, and then read the content when they’re ready.
Others like to read the card first, then look at the content. There’s no perfect compromise here, so just make sure that your card is attention-grabbing and irresistible, regardless of which method you prefer to use.
Avoid Overusing Business Card Design
If you find that your business card is getting repetitive in design, consider making an upgrade. For example, you could consider switching to a sans-serif typeface.
Sans-serif typefaces are easier to read, are less distracting, and are more effective at drawing the eye toward your content. If you want your card to be the most useful piece of marketing collateral possible, consider making a positive impact on your reputation through the cards you give out.
Every time a person opens your card and sees your signature, that person will remember you as a kind and helpful person. They’ll also remember you as the card designer who came up with the idea for their company.
Don’t Forget About The Photos
If you’re like most business people, you don’t take advantage of the fact that every business card comes with a free photo. It’s really easy to forget about this when you’re printing cards, but you need to make sure the photo is in the opening section of the card.
If you leave it out, people will assume that you don’t have any pictures on file, which could lead to you getting bad reviews on Yelp, Google, and other online forums.
Try To Avoid Color
Since you’ll be printing these cards on an office printer, it’s best to avoid the temptation to go overboard with the design. Color can be a good thing but in moderation.
If you decide to go with some vibrant colors, make sure the subject is the thing that’s vibrant in color like the backside of a sofa. In general, dark colors on a light background look less professional, so stay consistent with your card design.
Go Classic with Tag Words And Signature Line
It’s true that some business cards are more effective with a classic design, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t add a little color to your card with some letters. Generally, the letters are situated on the bottom half of the card so that they’re not distracting.
When you have a card with just the words, try to position the letters so that they’re flowing or fall into a certain style of writing. Some letters like the word “you” are more effective when they’re large, bold, and bright.
Be Forceful With Fonts
You can use many different fonts on business cards, but it’s best to choose a few that you like and that have been successful in other contexts.
Do your research and find a few fonts that you like, and then use them on your cards. You don’t have to go overboard with the font choice, though remember that people will still see your business card as a card when they see it, not a brochure.
Use Your Computer
If you’re making the card in-house, you can use almost any traditional office software. If you’re printing the card at home, there are free programs that might be better than spending money on a program that might not even be available anymore.
You can make business cards from almost any file that you can distribute, like a tiff, pdf, or png. Make sure to save the file directly onto your computer so that you don’t have to spend time looking for it later.
Final Thoughts
If you want to stand out among the crowd and make people think twice about who you are, then you need to make an effort to make sure your business cards are perfect.
The right card will let people know who you are and what you do, while still remaining easily recognizable as your own company. There are many different types of business cards, and it’s easy to get confused about which type you should use.
This article has provided a few tips on how to make the most of your business cards. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be able to create the perfect business card no matter how little or how much you have to work with.
The only way to gain more clients is to make sure that you are doing everything you can to build a strong business reputation. Fortunately, building a strong online reputation is equally important, and you can do that by following these tips.
